He has risen to 13th in the rankings, an ascent down to growing maturity allied to the immense talent that's been there all along.

"Winning and losing, there's such a minuscule difference between it," Willett said after his latest victory. "It's just about putting yourself in that position as many times as possible. Some days you get lucky."

Danny Willett won his third European Tour title at the 2015 European Masters

Willett's primary objective every week is to contend. "In my mind, that's a victory," he said.

That was the attitude that helped him push Rory McIlroy all the way to the final week of last year's Race to Dubai. The early evidence suggests a similar duel might emerge in 2016.

Willett's victory at the weekend eased the pressure on another season based on the European Tour. He has banked valuable Ryder Cup points and remains firmly on target to represent Great Britain at the Olympics.

Before then, he is due to become a father for the first time. His wife Nicole is expected to give birth in the run-up to the year's first major, the Masters at Augusta.

"It's nice to know that the stuff I'm doing is working - and my schedule choice," he said.

"It's nice to get off to a quick start because it's going to give me some key time off with Nicki's birth, and obviously we're going to be well up there in the world rankings for Rio and for the Ryder Cup."

Next stop is Malaysia later this month, before the year's first World Golf Championships tournament at Doral, where he finished third last year.

As for Sullivan, it is extraordinary to think back 12 months to his wide-eyed disbelief at being put in the marquee McIlroy group for the first two rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic.

This likeable, ever-smiling Midlander has become a fixture for such billing at European Tour events.

Now he will try his hand in America, and if he can tame the driving demons that crept in last week he will challenge for big prizes.

His putting touch and nerve on the greens make him a very dangerous prospect. Expect him to continue to climb from 28th in the world rankings.

"Bodes well for the rest of the year," he smiled after his share of second place in Dubai.

He is absolutely right - not just about his own prospects but for those of British golf.